After “Mechocracy” (reviewed HERE) brought back a blast from the past in the form of a toast-obsessed kitchen appliance and “M-Corp” (reviewed HERE) ended with a middle-aged recreation of Red Dwarf’s first ever scene, Doug Naylor rounds off this critically-and-commercially successful twelfth series of the popular British sci-fi sitcom with some Rick & Morty and Futurama-esque disasters in the multiverse which could very easily be seen as a perfectly nostalgic send-off to the show, were it not for the fact that this Dave-era revival has been such a hit that a series XIII – and possibly even a live show – seems like a shoe-in.

While a few of the jokes in series XII have riffed on over-familiar tropes from Red Dwarf‘s past (Lister’s dodgy guitar skillz, Cat’s less-than-subtle ribs about rid of Rimmer, Kryten’s love of cleaning), plot-wise, this latest batch of six space adventures for the remaining crew of the JMC’s finest has really upped the ante and pushed the ‘Bug out like never before.

Last week’s bold, PC-satirising shenanigans certainly divided the hardcore fanbase (read my review of “Timewave” HERE), although overnight numbers have confirmed that audience figures for Dave’s flagship original (re-) commission went UP for last night’s broadcast on the official home of witty banter, so I’m hoping all new boarders who alighted upon the good ship Red Dwarf stick around for this week’s far superior slice of sci-fi sitcommery.

At this halfway juncture I don’t think it’s premature for me to declare Red Dwarf XII an extraordinary run of the popular British sci-fi sitcom. In three episodes we have had three very diverse and unpredictably inventive approaches to the formula. “Cured” was a confident mystery with historical guest stars, “Siliconia” a grandiose gem borne out of a gimmick, while this week’s standalone instalment is a blatant satirical swipe at the PC brigade; madness mocking madness.

In the run-up to series XII’s transmission, the fanbase were divided between excitement and apprehension at the prospect of this ‘gimmick’ episode, long-teased by Doug and the cast as “the one where everyone’s Kryten.” Would the script provide a plausible-enough in-universe reason for rubbering-up Lister (Craig Charles), Rimmer (Chris Barrie) and Cat (Danny John-Jules)? Would the audience be able to see beyond the uncanny look of the three usually fleshy smegheads? Would it be funny without being farcical?

Having had to endure a ten year gap between 1999’s Series VIII cliffhanger and anniversary mini-series Back to Earth, followed by a further three-and-a-half year wait before the series-proper returned with 2012’s Series X, and another four before XI was commissioned, it’s fair to say that the comparatively sprightly 12-month turnaround between last year’s Red Dwarf XI and today’s UKTV Play online premiere of XII’s opener, “Cured”, feels like a mere blink of an eye – but more Dwarf is always a welcome treat and the sooner the better!

Ten series and two episodes ago – in the hazy mists of 1988’s I.4, to be precise – was the last time Cat (Danny John-Jules) was given his own episode. “Waiting For God” established the evolution – and mass-migration – of the felis sapien race away from Red Dwarf. Since then, everyone’s favourite sharp-suited pussy has been ever-present (if not ever reliable) on ship, but more in an auxiliary role.